Mathias turned sharply on his heel, flickering his gaze between Lee and Marcellious before leaving the room. His footsteps echoed down the hall with an air of finality.
I stood there, staring at Lee with desperation and frustration. The heavy silence in the room was punctuated only by Marcellious’ labored breathing.
“Will he make it?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Lee admitted, the exhaustion in his voice like a physical weight pressing down on him. His shoulders sagged, and his face was etched with lines of worry. “This whole plan... it’s spiraling out of control.”
“Out of control?” I echoed, incredulous. “What an understatement. I’m tired of all these secrets you’re keeping from me. What aren’t you telling me, Lee?”
Lee took a deep breath, his expression heavy with unspoken truths.
“Roman,” he said, “there is so much I want to share with you, but it’s too dangerous. All I can tell you is that Mathias and I have known each other for many years. We first crossed paths after I thought Alina had died. He approached me one day, claiming to be her father and wanting to watch over her daughter, Olivia, in her absence. I allowed it, not knowing what else to do.
“Then, one day, Alina returned, telling me the Timehunters had taken her hostage. That’s when Mathias revealed the truth about Balthazar and how he targeted Olivia. He declared we had to put an end to these dangerous people once and for all. That’s also when I learned that Marcellious had been captured by the Timehunters, despite Mathias’ assurances that everything would be okay.”
Lee’s voice wavered as he continued, “Marcellious and I have been separated for far too long, and now that I’m back, he’s sick and delusional from the poison they gave him. I must take him away from here and find someone to heal him properly before it’s too late.”
Tension coiled tighter within me. “And what about Olivia’s father? Does Jack know Alina is alive?”
Lee’s face hardened. “No. He can’t know. The trials Olivia endured with Tristan were immense. I can’t—won’t—risk Jack discovering any of this. He and Alina had a rocky relationship. It was hard on him after she left.”
The secrets we kept seemed to multiply, each one a thread in a web that threatened to entangle us all.
Malik stepped into the room, his expression grim. “I think Lee is right. He should take Marcellious to the future. After everything we’ve encountered, I don’t trust anyone. We’re in a pit of vipers here.”
Before I could respond, Emily appeared in the doorway, her presence a silent storm of worry. Her eyes searched mine, seeking reassurance—perhaps an escape from the darkness looming over us.
“I will go too,” Emily said, unable to mask the urgency in her voice. “Marcellious is my husband; I must be there for him.”
Malik grunted, folding his arms. “Emily and her son will go with you.”
“Then it’s settled,” I said. “You will all time travel at the next full moon.”
Leaving the room as the echo of our decision lingered, I made my way to check on Olivia. The house seemed to hold its breath, anticipation and fear mingling in the stale air. I found her sitting up, defiance etched into her posture despite the pallor of her skin.
I brushed my fingertips against her cheek, my heart aching for her.
“Olivia,” I said, my tone gentle yet filled with concern, “how are you feeling, my flaming fire?”
Leaning in, I kissed her forehead tenderly, hoping to offer comfort. The warmth of her skin against mine reminded me of the passion that burned between us. I only wanted her to feel at peace and free from pain.
“Okay,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction.
“You need rest,” I said.
She shook her head, stubbornness lighting her eyes. “No, Roman. I know you don’t believe me, but I know what I saw in the cave. The old man said that he knows you and that you have met each other in Rome.”
A chuckle escaped me, unbidden. “Olivia, I met a lot of people in Rome.”
Her expression sharpened, growing intense, almost feverish. “He had this presence... like the shadows bent toward him, drawn to him.” She shivered, her voice trembling with the weight of her recollection. “He moved with deliberate, almost predatory grace. Each step he took echoed softly in the cave as if the ground recognized him.” Her gaze grew distant, caught in the vivid memory. “And the snakes guarded the moon dagger, coiled and slithering like living sentinels, protecting something so precious. I saw it, Roman. I saw it all.”
“Olivia, my love, there was no one in there,” I replied, maintaining a gentle firmness.
The battle lines were drawn between us, invisible yet palpable. She clung to her vision with a tenacity that frustrated and impressed me. As much as I wanted to dismiss her claims, a small part of me couldn’t shake the nagging thought that the truth might be buried in her words. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on impossibilities. Immediate dangers loomed, and every moment spent debating felt like a betrayal of those relying on me.
The weight of her sadness hung heavy in the air, almost suffocating. The shimmer of unshed tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to fall. Her pain and vulnerability crashed over me like a cold, unrelenting tide, washing away my resolve and leaving me raw.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said at last, my voice softening in her despair. “But the baby is coming soon, Olivia. You must watch over yourself and protect the life growing inside you.”
